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When Satan Will Appear as Christ
PART ONE OF FOUR
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When it happens, it will make headlines in every newspaper throughout
the world! Interviews of him will appear on every television screen. Every
newspaper and news magazine will run feature stories on him. And this will
not be a one-time news release. It will continue on and on to the final close
of probation, and probably beyond. We are nearing the climactic end of the
6,000-year warfare between God’s law and Satan’s deceptions.
In this brief study, I will provide you with every
Spirit of Prophecy passage on this important subject.
The remainder of this research study is reprinted from pp. 51-58, 189-191, 58-62, and 6568 of my 360-page, 8½ x 11, hardback book, The
End of Time.
(Single copies are available for only $13.00 ppd.
In boxfuls of 8 to the case, it only costs $4.75 per
copy. The box cost is, in the U.S., $38.00 + $12.00.)
This is an excellent book to share with friends,
relataives, and fellow believers—so they will not be
misled by the winds of error regarding coming
events, which are blowing everywhere. The entire
book contains the most complete, classified collection of Spirit of Prophecy statements on last-day
events ever compiled; and concludes with a chapter on the dangers of time-setting.
———————————————
The following section
is from The End of Time, pp. 51-58:
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OVERVIEW:
DATE OF PUBLICATION: APRIL 2010
FROM COUNTERFEIT REVIVAL
TO
FULL-BLOWN FALSE LATTER RAIN
About 4,350 years ago, the wicked confederated together to build the tower of Babel and impose their rule
on the world. If permitted to carry out their purposes,
they would have blotted the people of God from the earth
and Satan’s triumph would have been complete.
But, in the near future, a similar objective will be in
mind. In the name of Christianity, men will unify to require first a nation and then a world to break the fourth
of God’s ten moral laws.
Empowered by a strange excitement, Protestants
will unite with Catholics in the attainment of their objective. As soon as they have coerced U.S. Governmental leaders to enact a National Sunday Law, the excitement in the fallen churches will intensify into a false
latter rain. Because men have dared to defy God’s laws
and mandate a counterfeit on the populace, Satan will
be permitted to work wonders. A counterfeit revival will
precede the genuine. That counterfeit revival, discussed
in the first video in a companion series to this book,
brings on the National Sunday Law. But that counterfeit revival will continue on afterward. For purposes of
clarification, we will call its extension, past the National
Sunday Law, the “false latter rain.” (You will find both
names mentioned in the Spirit of Prophecy; she treats
them as synonyms, not making the time distinction that
we here do.)
Do not underate this false latter rain. As soon as
the Sunday law is enacted, the power of demonic energy, display, and appearances swells into something
quite massive. It is this power which in great measure
enables the law to be rather quickly enacted by every
other nation on the globe. The result is, what is called,
a universal Sunday law. It probably consists of hundreds of separate national laws; all of which impose
Sunday sacredness and demand worship of God on
Sunday.
After the National Sunday Law is passed, the latter rain begins; and both the true and false rain continue on concurrently together thereafter.
Satan will work miracles through his agents; and
he will personate (appear as) Christ to the masses,
work apparent miracles, endorse Sunday, and denounce Sabbathkeepers.
These spiritual manifestations, by Satan and his
agents, are extremely important in the rapid working
out of final events in the Sunday law crisis prior to the
general close of probation. Without them, the intense
zeal for strictest national and later universal Sunday
law enforcement could never take place. Yet it will be
Sunday enactment in the United States which will have
2 empowered Satan to begin demonstrating such wonders.
According to EW 261:1, Satan will raise an excitement
before the National Sunday Law. According to 5T 451:1,
the National Sunday Law will open the door for the
marvelous workings by Satan.
Those final events, once begun, will follow one another rapidly.
Below we will list a suggested order of early events
in the Sunday law enactment. You will note that, along
with hatred of Sabbathkeepers, the religious excitement/false latter rain fervor is the engine driving forward the fierce passions of the Sunday-law advocates,
both before and after the National Sunday Law is enacted. Let us briefly summarize again some of these
early events in the National Sunday Law crisis:
A powerful religious excitement, or counterfeit
revival, starts in the churches. This energizes Protestants, Catholics, and spiritists to work together, yet
without disturbing any denominational leadership
controls which are already in place.
A tentative threefold union of influential Protestants and Catholics, empowered by spiritist forces, begins to take shape. Hatred of Sabbathkeepers impels
the churches to search for ways by which to push the
U.S. Government into enacting sweeping Sunday enforcements. Please understand that, to all appearances, it is only a twofold union. The churchmen do
not realize they are working with demons.
Under the empowered excitement, the threefold
union forms rather quickly. Catholicism brings to the
union the doctrine of Sunday sacredness and provides
the political support of millions of Catholics. Protestantism brings to it a driving leadership that coerces
the U.S. Government to legislate and enforce it. For its
part, spiritism provides the hypnotic and miracleworking power needed to carry the movement through
to success.
The National Sunday Law is enacted by the United
States Government. Initial passage of the law is done
for political reasons, in order to win favor with the
churches. At this point, the full power and extent of
the Sunday-law movement is yet future.
The False Latter Rain begins. By their heavendaring willingness to try to enact laws to overthrow
those which God has given, Satan is permitted, by
Heaven, to more directly empower the efforts of the
threefold union to win the favor of all sides to the endeavor.
Spirits of demons, working with men, bring
massive conversions to the movement and promote
the bold, new solution to world problems. America,
first, and Europe, second, will take the lead; and the
rest of the world will follow. It is the amazing power
underlying this movement that rivets the attention of
the other nations and finally converts them to the Sunday-law bandwagon.
Enactment of the National Sunday Law in America
has opened the way for satanic wonders, appearances,
and miracles on a wonder-working scale never before
witnessed by human eyes. The power of the false latter
rain swells immensely.
These miracles change politicians, church men, and
laymen into religious zealots, determined to enforce
Sundaykeeping by whatever penalties are required, even
if they include the imposition of imprisonment and
death. Nearly all are swept into the ranks; although,
before the loud cry begins, the great majority do not yet
understand the issues involved.
Before passage of the law, there was only a religious
excitement in the churches stirring them to a threefold
union. At their behest, the law was enacted by politicians merely as a political favor. But, after the law is
enacted, the marvelous working of Satan is unleashed
to an astounding degree. Deceived minds now see the
nationwide law in a new light; it has become the basis
of a great, new world order, ushering in a millennium of
peace and prosperity. Strictest enforcement of Sunday
sacredness surely must be all that is needed to bring
universal peace, prosperity, and the approval of God.
That, apparently, is the only real sacrifice He asks of
them. The gluttony, worldliness, and selfishness can
continue as usual. The theologians declare that Heaven
accepts the people just as they are; and they need not
put away their sins.
Enactment of the law places the nation in the hands
of Satan; and he is permitted to work more openly.
The wonders which follow galvanize, first, America
and, then, the entire world. The final crisis has come.
Let us now view the effect this false latter rain will
have on, first, America and, then, on the rest of the
world:
-1WHEN THE FALSE LATTER RAIN
WILL OCCUR
1 - Sequence: According to Patriarchs and
Prophets, 686, this special working of Satan will
occur prior to the Second Advent.
“Paul, in his second letter to the Thessalonians,
points to the special working of Satan in spiritualism as an event to take place immediately before the
Second Advent of Christ. Speaking of Christ’s Second Coming, he declares that it is ‘after the working of
Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders.’ 2
Thessalonians 2:9.”—Patriarchs and Prophets, 686:1.
2 - Sequence: According to Early Writings, 261,
Satan will begin by raising an excitement in the
fallen churches before the loud cry begins. (In a
later study, we will learn that the loud cry begins
just after the law is enacted. The plagues occur after probation ends.)
“I saw that God has honest children among the
nominal Adventists and the fallen churches, and before the plagues shall be poured out, ministers and
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people will be called out from these churches and will
gladly receive the truth. Satan knows this; and before
the loud cry of the third angel is given, he raises an
excitement in these religious bodies, that those who
have rejected the truth may think that God is with them.
He hopes to deceive the honest and lead them to think
that God is still working for the churches.”—Early Writings, 261:1.
As we learned earlier, this excitement, or counterfeit revival, will lead to the enactment of the National
Sunday Law. It will be this strange excitement which
will produce the threefold union and, through it, powerfully coerce Congress into passing the National Sunday Law.
But the excitement will not cease when the law is
passed; it will intensify! Its enactment will permit Satan to exhibit devilish wonders which are astounding.
So Satan will be working both before and after the
law, but especially so after it is passed. We must give a
name to this: First, his heightened activity, which leads
to the threefold union and the National Sunday Law,
we will call the “satanic excitement” or “counterfeit
revival.” Second, after enactment of the law, the continuation and mammoth deepening of that excitement
into a full-blown working of wonders we will call “satanic wonders,” “the false latter rain,” or “the counterfeit latter rain.”
This present study is about the post-enactment of
the false latter rain and display of satanic wonders.
3 - Sequence: According to 5 Testimonies, 451,
first will come the threefold union, then the enactment of the National Sunday Law, then the marvelous working of Satan.
“By the decree enforcing the institution of the papacy in violation of the law of God, our nation will
disconnect herself fully from righteousness. When
Protestantism shall stretch her hand across the gulf
to grasp the hand of the Roman power, when she
shall reach over the abyss to clasp hands with spiritualism, when, under the influence of this threefold
union, our country shall repudiate every principle of
its Constitution as a Protestant and republican government, and shall make provision for the propagation of papal falsehoods and delusions, then we may
know that the time has come for the marvelous
working of Satan and that the end is near.”—5 Testimonies, 451:1.
In the above quotation, we are given a promised
sign. The phrase, “the end is near,” is a warning for
those who have not yet done so, to begin moving to
more retired places; cf. GC 30:2-31:0.
4 - Sequence: As we have earlier learned, according to Great Controversy, 464, Satan’s counterfeit revival will precede the latter rain upon God’s
people. The faithful who understand the issues, who
have not earlier done so, will separate from the
fallen churches when the true latter rain begins falling.
“Before the final visitation of God’s judgments upon 3
the earth, there will be, among the people of the Lord,
such a revival of primitive godliness as has not been
witnessed since apostolic times. The Spirit and power
of God will be poured out upon His children. At that
time many will separate themselves from those
churches in which the love of this world has supplanted
love for God and His Word. Many, both of ministers and
people, will gladly accept those great truths which God
has caused to be proclaimed at this time, to prepare a
people for the Lord’s Second Coming. The enemy of souls
desires to hinder this work; and before the time for
such a movement shall come, he will endeavor to
prevent it, by introducing a counterfeit. In those
churches which he can bring under his deceptive power,
he will make it appear that God’s special blessing is
poured out; there will be manifest what is thought to be
great religious interest. Multitudes will exult that God
is working marvelously for them, when the work is that
of another spirit. Under a religious guise, Satan will
seek to extend his influence over the Christian world.”—
Great Controversy, 464:1.
-2HOW SATAN AND HIS DEVILS
WILL WORK
TO CAPTURE AND DESTROY
SATAN WANTS TO
OVERCOME EVERYONE
1 - Satan’s objective is to lead and control every Christian in the world.
“We are approaching the end of this earth’s history, and Satan is working as never before. He is
striving to act as director of the Christian world.
With an intensity that is marvelous he is working his
lying wonders. Satan is represented as walking about
as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. He
desires to embrace the whole world in his confederacy.”—8 Manuscript Releases, 346:1 (1901).
2 - He wants to deceive and overpower all the
faithful.
“The Word of God declares that when it suits the
enemy’s purpose, he will through his agencies manifest so great a power under a pretense of Christianity that, ‘if it were possible, they shall deceive the
very elect’ [Matt. 24:24].”—Manuscript, 125, 1901.
“As the spirits will profess faith in the Bible and
manifest respect for the institutions of the
church, their work will be accepted as a manifestation of divine power.”—Great Controversy, 588:2.
3 - There will be an emotional excitement, a
mingling of the true with the false, which will captivate all but those grounded in Scripture.
“In many of the revivals which have occurred during
the last half century, the same influences have been at
work, to a greater or less degree, that will be manifest
4 in the more extensive movements of the future. There is
an emotional excitement, a mingling of the true
with the false, that is well adapted to mislead. Yet none
need be deceived. In the light of God’s Word it is not
difficult to determine the nature of these movements.
Wherever men neglect the testimony of the Bible,
turning away from those plain, soul-testing truths
which require self-denial and renunciation of the
world, there we may be sure that God’s blessing is not
bestowed. And by the rule which Christ Himself has
given, ‘Ye shall know them by their fruits,’ it is evident
that these movements are not the work of the Spirit of
God.”—Great Controversy, 464:2-465:0.
4 - Pray that you will be able to distinguish Satan’s
miracle-working power from divine power.
“The miracle-working power manifested through
spiritualism will exert its influence against those who
choose to obey God rather than men. Communications
from the spirits will declare that God has sent them
to convince the rejecters of Sunday of their error,
affirming that the laws of the land should be obeyed
as the law of God. They will lament the great wickedness in the world and second the testimony of religious
teachers that the degraded state of morals is caused by
the desecration of Sunday. Great will be the indignation
excited against all who refuse to accept their testimony.”—Great Controversy, 591:0.
“Go to God for yourselves, pray for divine enlightenment, that you may know that you do know what is
truth, that when the wonderful miracle-working
power shall be displayed, and the enemy shall come
as an angel of light, you may distinguish between the
genuine work of God and the imitative work of the
powers of darkness.”—3 Selected Messages, 389:4.
1 - God’s people will be called lawbreakers.
“While Satan seeks to destroy those who honor
God’s law, he will cause them to be accused as
lawbreakers, as men who are dishonoring God and
bringing judgments upon the world.”—Great Controversy, 591:1.
FALSE TEACHINGS WILL BE TAUGHT
1 - Spirits of devils will declare the Sabbath to
have been changed.
“The saints must get a thorough understanding of
present truth, which they will be obliged to maintain
from the Scriptures. They must understand the state
of the dead, for the spirits of devils will yet appear to
them, professing to be beloved friends and relatives,
who will declare to them that the Sabbath has
been changed, also other unscriptural doctrines.”—Early Writings, 87:2.
2 - The lying spirits will contradict Scripture.
“The apostles, as personated by these lying spirits, are made to contradict what they wrote at the
dictation of the Holy Spirit when on earth. They deny
the divine origin of the Bible.”—Great Controversy,
557:1.
3 - Satan will use two special doctrinal errors
to capture the people.
“Through the two great errors, the immortality
of the soul and Sunday sacredness, Satan will bring
the people under his deceptions. While the former lays
the foundation of spiritualism, the latter creates a bond
of sympathy with Rome.”—Great Controversy, 588:1.
THE SPIRITS WILL
DEMAND SUNDAYKEEPING
The spirits will speak for Sunday sacredness,
against the Sabbath and Sabbathkeepers, and declare
that the laws of the land should be obeyed.
More WAYMARKS - from ——————
GOD’S PEOPLE
WILL BE CALLED LAWBREAKERS
2 - They will be accused as anarchists (against
government rule), traitors, and opposed to law and
morality.
“Those who honor the Bible Sabbath will be denounced as enemies of law and order, as breaking down the moral restraints of society, causing
anarchy and corruption, and calling down the judgments of God upon the earth. Their conscientious
scruples will be pronounced obstinacy, stubborness,
and contempt of authority. They will be accused of
disaffection toward the government. Ministers who
deny the obligation of the divine law will present from
the pulpit the duty of yielding obedience to the civil
authorities as ordained of God. In legislative halls and
courts of justice, commandment keepers will be misrepresented and condemned. A false coloring will be
given to their words; the worst construction will be
put upon their motives.”—Great Controversy, 592:1.
FANATICISM WILL OCCUR
1 - There will be shouting, drums, music, and
dancing.
“The things you have described as taking place in
Indiana, the Lord has shown me would take place just
before the close of probation. Every uncouth thing will
be demonstrated. There will be shouting, with
drums, music, and dancing. The senses of rational
beings will become so confused that they cannot be
trusted to make right decisions . .
“A bedlam of noise shocks the senses and perverts that which if conducted aright might be a blessing. The powers of satanic agencies blend with the din
and noise to have a carnival [a synonym for celebra-
PIL
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Continued on the next tract
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When Satan Will Appear as Christ
Continued from the preceding tract in this series
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tion], and this is termed the Holy Spirit’s working
. . Those things which have been in the past will be in
the future. Satan will make music a snare by the way in
which it is conducted.”—2 Selected Messages, 36:2-3,
38:1.
2 - Men will engage in strange activities and call
them the work of God.
“Let us give no place to strange exercisings, which
really take the mind away from the deep movings of the
Holy Spirit. God’s work is ever characterized by calmness and dignity.”—2 Selected Messages, 42:4.
3 - Fanaticism, tongues, and noise will be termed
special gifts of God.
“Fanaticism, false excitement, false talking
in tongues, and noisy exercises have been considered gifts which God has placed in the church. Some
have been deceived here. The fruits of all this have not
been good. ‘Ye shall know them by their fruits.’ Fanaticism and noise have been considered special
evidences of faith. Some are not satisfied with a meeting unless they have a powerful and happy time. They
work for this and get up an excitement of feeling. But
the influence of such meetings is not beneficial. When
the happy flight of feeling is gone, they sink lower than
before the meeting because their happiness did not
come from the right source.”—1 Testimonies, 412:1.
MIRACLES WILL BE SEEN
1 - Through deception, Satan will produce apparent miracles. They are appearances which have
no reality in fact.
“Satan can, through a species of deceptions,
perform wonders that will appear to be genuine
miracles. It was this he hoped to make a test question with the Israelites at the time of their deliverance
from Egypt.”—2 Selected Messages, 52:4.
2 - Satan will use miracles to demonstrate his
power.
“The way in which Christ worked was to preach
the Word, and to relieve suffering by miraculous works
of healing. But I am instructed that we cannot now
work in this way, for Satan will exercise his power
by working miracles. God’s servants today could
not work by means of miracles, because spurious
works of healing, claiming to be divine, will be
wrought.”—2 Selected Messages, 54:2.
3 - Satan will be able to counterfeit those miracles
done by God’s people. A counterfeit is not the real-
PART TWO
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ity, but it appears so.
“God’s people will not find their safety in working
miracles, for Satan will counterfeit the miracles that
will be wrought.”—9 Testimonies, 16:1.
4 - Miracle-working power by the disobedient only
proves their connection to Satan. We can know this,
because God’s true followers are obedient to His laws.
“If those through whom cures are performed are
disposed, on account of these manifestations, to excuse their neglect of the law of God and continue in
disobedience, though they have power to any and every extent, it does not follow that they have the
great power of God. On the contrary, it is the
miracle-working power of the great deceiver.”—2
Selected Messages, 50:4-51:0.
5 - The truths of the Bible are of greater importance than miracles performed in your sight. Never
forget that.
“The Bible will never be superseded by miraculous manifestations. The truth must be studied, it
must be searched for as hidden treasure. Wonderful
illuminations will not be given aside from the
Word, or to take the place of it. Cling to the Word,
receive the engrafted Word which will make men wise
unto salvation.”—2 Selected Messages, 48:2.
6 - Only by Scripture will we be able to correctly identify the counterfeit when it appears.
“The last great delusion is soon to open before us.
Antichrist is to perform his marvelous works in our
sight. So closely will the counterfeit resemble the
true that it will be impossible to distinguish between them except by the holy Scriptures. By their
testimony every statement and every miracle must be
tested.”—Great Controversy, 593:1.
7 - The people of God will not be misled when
the time comes for the wondrous delusions of Satan to be manifest.
“Persons will arise pretending to be Christ Himself and claiming the title and worship which belong
to the world’s Redeemer. They will perform wonderful miracles of healing and will profess to have revelations from heaven contradicting the testimony of
the Scriptures . .
“But the people of God will not be misled. The
teachings of this false christ are not in accordance
with the Scriptures. His blessing is pronounced upon
the worshipers of the beast and his image, the very class
upon whom the Bible declares that God’s unmingled
wrath shall be poured out.”—Great Controversy, 624:1,
625:1.
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DEMONS WILL APPEAR AS MEN
1 - Miracles and healings will occur and Satan
will appear as an angel. The spirits will respect the
institutions of the churches.
Because the devils are not concerned about corruption in organizational leaders, structures, committees,
and their activities, they will be welcomed for the power
they bring. Otherwise they might have been feared and
shunned by church, business, and political leaders.
“As spiritualism more closely imitates the nominal
Christianity of the day, it has greater power to deceive
and ensnare. Satan himself is converted, after the
modern order of things. He will appear in the character of an angel of light. Through the agency of spiritualism, miracles will be wrought, the sick will be
healed, and many undeniable wonders will be performed. And as the spirits will profess faith in the Bible,
and manifest respect for the institutions of the
church, their work will be accepted as a manifestation
of divine power.”—Great Controversy, 588:2.
2 - Healings and miracles will be performed in
the presence of God’s people in order to counteract their message before others and, hopefully, to
overcome them.
“The sick will be healed before us. Miracles
will be performed in our sight. Are we prepared for
the trial which awaits us when the lying wonders of
Satan shall be more fully exhibited?”—1 Testimonies,
302:2.
3 - Agents of Satan will, “by casting a spell,”
bring sickness upon people and then work an apparent miracle by removing it.
“Men under the influence of evil spirits will
work miracles. They will make people sick by casting their spell upon them, and will then remove the
spell, leading others to say that those who were sick
have been miraculously healed. This Satan has done
again and again.”—2 Selected Messages, 53:2.
“Wonderful scenes, with which Satan will be closely
connected, will soon take place. God’s Word declares
that Satan will work miracles. He will make people
sick, and then will suddenly remove from them
his satanic power. They will then be regarded as
healed. These works of apparent healing will bring
Seventh-day Adventists to the test.”—2 Selected Messages, 53:3.
4 - Both Satan and his devils will appear in human form as living people.
“Satan will use every opportunity to seduce men
from their allegiance to God. He and the angels who
fell with him will appear on the earth as men, seeking to deceive. God’s angels also will appear as men,
and will use every means in their power to defeat the
purposes of the enemy.”—8 Manuscript Releases, 399
(1903).
5 - These demons will converse with God’s people,
and will try to convince others that God’s people have
a wrong message, a wrong faith.
“Evil angels in the form of men will talk with
those who know the truth. They will misinterpret and
misconstrue the statements of the messengers of God .
.
“Have Seventh-day Adventists forgotten the warning given in the sixth chapter of Ephesians? We are
engaged in a warfare against the hosts of darkness. Unless we follow our Leader closely, Satan will
obtain the victory over us.”—3 Selected Messages,
411:1-2.
6 - Devils in human form will even become workers in our denomination, and will speak in our
meetings. We will be able to identify those who
might be such spirits, because they will urge our
people to disbelieve our historic message. (The following statement indicates it is discussing a present,
as well as a future, event!)
“Evil angels in the form of believers will work in
our ranks to bring in a strong spirit of unbelief. Let not
even this discourage you, but bring a true heart to the
help of the Lord against the powers of satanic agencies.
These powers of evil will assemble in our meetings,
not to receive a blessing, but to counterwork the influences of the Spirit of God.”—2 Mind, Character, and
Personality, 504:3-505:0.
7 - Satan will use all conceivable methods to ruin
God’s people; for he already controls so many others
in the world.
“There is now need of earnest, working men and
women who will seek for the salvation of souls, for
Satan as a powerful general has taken the field, and in
this last remnant of time he is working through all
conceivable methods to close the door against
light that God would have come to His people. He
is sweeping the whole world into his ranks, and the
few who are faithful to God’s requirements are the only
ones who can ever withstand him, and even these he
is trying to overcome.”—3 Selected Messages, 389:3.
8 - Spirits of devils, and their human agents,
will work to convert leaders and people throughout the world to the grand new movement. They
will perform healing miracles and say they have
divine revelations.
“Fearful sights of a supernatural character
will soon be revealed in the heavens, in token of the
power of miracle-working demons. The spirits of
devils will go forth to the kings of the earth and
to the whole world, to fasten them in deception,
and urge them on to unite with Satan in his last
struggle against the government of heaven. By these
agencies, rulers and subjects will be alike deceived. Persons will arise pretending to be Christ Himself, and
claiming the title and worship which belong to the world’s
Redeemer. They will perform wonderful miracles of
healing, and will profess to have revelations from
heaven contradicting the testimony of the Scriptures.”—
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Great Controversy, 624:1.
Word of God.”—Last Day Events, 161:3.
9 - Spirits of devils will teach heresies and work
miracles.
“Many will be confronted by the spirits of devils
personating beloved relatives or friends, and declaring
the most dangerous heresies. These visitants will
appeal to our tenderest sympathies, and will work
miracles to sustain their pretensions. We must be
prepared to withstand them with the Bible truth that
the dead know not anything, and that they who thus
appear are the spirits of devils.”—Great Controversy,
560:1.
2 - Devils will come in the form of departed loved
ones in order to deceive people. Satan has power to
bring before men the appearance of their departed
friends. The counterfeit is perfect; the familiar look,
the words, the tone, are reproduced with marvelous
distinctness.
“Many will be confronted by the spirits of devils
personating beloved relatives or friends and declaring the most dangerous heresies. These visitants will appeal to our tenderest sympathies and will
work miracles to sustain their pretensions.”—Story
of Redemption, 398:1.
10 - The world is already teetering on the brink
of wholesale perversion and apostasy. By accepting spiritism and spiritist teachings, the world will
have its morality destroyed.
“As the teachings of spiritualism are accepted
by the churches, the restraint imposed upon the
carnal heart is removed, and the profession of religion will become a cloak to conceal the basest
iniquity. A belief in spiritual manifestations opens the
door to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils, and
thus the influence of evil angels will be felt in the
churches.”—Great Controversy, 603:2-604:0.
11 - The churches will not be able to withstand
the inroads of spiritism. (This would be because of
their acceptance of the belief of innate, unconditional immortality.)
“The popular ministry cannot successfully resist spiritualism. They have nothing wherewith to
shield their flocks from its baleful influence. Much of
the sad result of spiritualism will rest upon ministers
of this age; for they have trampled the truth under
their feet, and in its stead have preferred fables.”—1
Testimonies, 344:1.
THE DEAD WILL APPARENTLY APPEAR
1 - Devils will personate departed saints and
sinners, so that they will appear to have returned
from the dead.
“It is not difficult for the evil angels to represent
both saints and sinners who have died, and make
these representations visible to human eyes. These
manifestations will be more frequent; and developments of a more startling character will appear as we
near the close of time.”—Evangelism, 604:3.
“It is Satan’s most successful and fascinating delusion—one calculated to take hold of the sympathies
of those who have laid their loved ones in the grave.
Evil angels come in the form of those loved ones
and relate incidents connected with their lives, and
perform acts which they performed while living. In
this way they lead persons to believe that their dead
friends are angels hovering over them and communicating with them. These evil angels, who assume to be the
deceased friends, are regarded with a certain idolatry,
and, with many, their word has greater weight than the
3 - Through these appearances, Satan will captivate and paralyze the thinking of many religious,
professional, and political leaders. He will then use
them to deceive still others.
“The forms of the dead will appear, through
the cunning device of Satan, and many will link up
with the one who loveth and maketh a lie. I warn our
people that right among us some will turn away from
the faith and give heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils, and by them the truth will be evil spoken of.
“A marvelous work shall take place. Ministers,
lawyers, doctors, who have permitted these falsehoods
to overmaster their spirit of discernment, will be themselves deceivers, united with the deceived. A spiritual
drunkenness will take possession of them.”—Upward
Look, 317:6.
HEATHEN DEITIES
WILL APPEAR AS INCARNATE
Well-known heathen deities (Buddha, Mohammed, Tao, Confucius, local devil gods, etc.) will appear to have returned to our world. They will exhibit great power. (We can be sure that such appearances will be used to advocate Sundaykeeping
and will powerfully open the non-Christian nations
to the counterfeit latter rain that is spreading across
the world.)
“As we near the close of time, there will be greater
and still greater external parade of heathen power;
heathen deities will manifest their signal power,
and will exhibit themselves before the cities of the
world; and this delineation has already begun to be
fulfilled.”—Testimonies to Ministers, 117:5-118:0.
SATAN PROMISES
A MILLENNIUM OF HAPPINESS
As the excitement heightens to fever pitch, it
will be declared that the entire world is about to be
converted and the long-promised millennium of happiness is about to begin.
“Papists, Protestants, and worldlings will alike
accept the form of godliness without the power, and they
will see in this union a grand movement for the conver-
7
8 sion of the world and the ushering in of the long-expected millennium.”—Great Controversy 588:3-589:0.
SATAN WILL BRING
TERRIBLE DISASTERS
1 - Through spiritism, Satan will appear as a healer
with a better system of religion while, at the same
time, he is destroying lives through intemperance and
warfare, as well as through natural disasters which
he has power to cause.
“Through spiritualism Satan appears as a benefactor of the race, healing the diseases of the people and
professing to present a new and more exalted system of religious faith; but at the same time he works
as a destroyer. His temptations are leading multitudes
to ruin. Intemperance dethrones reason; sensual indulgence, strife, and bloodshed follow. Satan delights
in war; for it excites the worst passions of the soul, and
then sweeps into eternity its victims, steeped in vice
and blood. It is his object to incite the nations to war
against one another; for he can thus divert the minds of
the people from the work of preparation to stand in the
day of God.
“Satan works through the elements also to garner
his harvest of unprepared souls. He has studied the
secrets of the laboratories of nature, and he uses
all his power to control the elements as far as God
allows. When he was suffered to afflict Job, how quickly
flocks and herds, servants, houses, children, were
swept away, one trouble succeeding another as in a
moment. It is God that shields His creatures and
hedges them in from the power of the destroyer. But
the Christian world have shown contempt for the law
of Jehovah; and the Lord will do just what He has
declared that He would—He will withdraw His blessings from the earth, and remove His protecting care
from those who are rebelling against His law and teaching and forcing others to do the same. Satan has control of all whom God does not especially guard. He
will favor and prosper some, in order to further his
own designs; and he will bring trouble upon others,
and lead men to believe that it is God who is afflicting
them.”—Great Controversy, 589:1-2.
2 - At the same time that Satan is appearing
among men as a great healer, he is bringing terrible disasters so serious that large cities are being
destroyed.
“While appearing to the children of men as a great
physician who can heal all their maladies, he will
bring disease and disaster, until populous cities
are reduced to ruin and desolation.”—Great Controversy, 589:3.
3 - In all of this, Satan’s objective is to blame the
commandment-keeping people of God as the cause
More WAYMARKS - from ——————
of the disasters.
“And then the great deceiver will persuade men that
those who serve God are causing these evils. The class
that have provoked the displeasure of Heaven will charge
all their troubles upon those whose obedience to God’s
commandments is a perpetual reproof to trangressors.
It will be declared that men are offending God by
the violation of the Sunday-sabbath; that this sin
has brought calamities which will not cease until Sunday observance shall be strictly enforced; and that those
who present the claims of the fourth commandment,
thus destroying reverence for Sunday, are troublers of
the people, preventing their restoration to divine favor
and temporal prosperity.”—Great Controversy, 590:1.
———————————————
The following section
is from The End of Time, pp. 189-191:
———————————————
-8SATAN PERSONATES CHRIST
In the book, Great Controversy, there are two mentions of Satan’s personation of Christ. The first is found
on pages 588-589, and refers to a time before the close
of probation. The second is found in chapter 39 (pages
624-625)—but it occurs within a flashback section.
That flashback occurs from page 620:2 through page
626:0.
Before and after that flashback, we are told about
Jacob’s trouble and the agonizing experience of God’s
people just before their deliverance by the Voice of God.
Thus it would appear that the second mention of
Satan’s personation of Christ, in Great Controversy,
actually refers to his appearance prior to the close of
probation. Of course, Satan may also appear after the
close of probation. The crucial point here is that Satan definitely will appear before the close of probation
while the faithful are giving the loud cry—and that is
when it clearly begins.
In order to understand this for yourself, carefully
read GC 621:2-625:1. Here is the arrangement of this
flashback:
Jacob’s trouble (GC 615:2-620:1).
—Flashback begins—
The preparation we should now be making (GC
620:2-623:3). Satan will soon begin presenting fearful sights of a supernatural nature to us, and will work
miracles (GC 624:1). Satan will personate Christ (GC
624:2-625:2). We must now prepare for what is soon to
come when Satan will appear as Christ and tell the
people they should keep Sunday instead of the Sabbath
(GC 625:3-626:0).
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When Satan Will Appear as Christ
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—Flashback ends—
More on the Jacob’s trouble crisis, brought on by
the death decree (GC 626:1-627:1). The plagues are
poured out (GC 627:2, etc.).
1 - Satan will personate Christ.
“As the second appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ
draws near, satanic agencies are moved from beneath.
Satan will not only appear as a human being, but he
will personate Jesus Christ; and the world that has
rejected the truth will receive him as the Lord of lords
and King of kings.”—5 Bible Commentary, 1105/2:41106/1:0.
2 - This dazzling being will appear in different
parts of the world.
“As the crowning act in the great drama of deception, Satan himself will personate Christ. The
church has long professed to look to the Saviour’s
advent as the consummation of her hopes. Now the
great deceiver will make it appear that Christ
has come. In different parts of the earth, Satan
will manifest himself among men as a majestic
being of dazzling brightness, resembling the description of the Son of God given by John in Revelation. Revelation 1:13-15.”—Great Controversy, 624:2.
“The glory that surrounds him [Satan] is unsurpassed by anything that mortal eyes have yet beheld. The shout of triumph rings out upon the air:
‘Christ has come! Christ has come!’ The people prostrate themselves in adoration before him, while he lifts
up his hands and pronounces a blessing upon
them, as Christ blessed His disciples when He was
upon the earth. His voice is soft and subdued, yet
full of melody. In gentle, compassionate tones he
presents some of the same gracious, heavenly
truths which the Saviour uttered; he heals the diseases of the people, and then, in his assumed character of Christ, he claims to have changed the Sabbath to Sunday, and commands all to hallow the
day which he has blessed. He declares that those who
persist in keeping holy the seventh day are blaspheming his name by refusing to listen to his angels sent to
them with light and truth. This is the strong, almost overmastering delusion. Like the Samaritans
who were deceived by Simon Magus, the multitudes,
from the least to the greatest, give heed to these sorceries, saying: This is ‘the great power of God.’ Acts 8:10.
“But the people of God will not be misled. The
teachings of this false christ are not in accordance with
the Scriptures. His blessing is pronounced upon the
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worshipers of the beast and his image, the very class
upon whom the Bible declares that God’s unmingled
wrath shall be poured out.”—Great Controversy, 624:2625:1.
3 - He is not permitted to counterfeit Christ’s coming in the skies with glory and thousands of angels.
“And, furthermore, Satan is not permitted to
counterfeit the manner of Christ’s advent. The Saviour has warned His people against deception upon
this point, and has clearly foretold the manner of His
second coming. ‘There shall arise false christs, and
false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall
deceive the very elect . . Wherefore if they shall say
unto you, Behold, He is in the desert; go not forth:
behold, He is in the secret chambers; believe it not.
For as the lightening cometh out of the east, and
shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming
of the Son of man be.’ Matthew 24:24-27, 31; 25:31;
Revelation 1:7; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17. This coming there is no possibility of counterfeiting. It will
be universally known—witnessed by the whole
world.
“Only those who have been diligent students of the
Scriptures and who have received the love of the truth
will be shielded from the powerful delusion that takes
the world captive. By the Bible testimony these will
detect the deceiver in his disguise. To all the testing
time will come. By the sifting of temptation the genuine Christian will be revealed. Are the people of God
so firmly established upon His Word that they would
not yield to the evidence of their senses? Would they,
in such a crisis, cling to the Bible and the Bible only?
Satan will, if possible, prevent them from obtaining a
preparation to stand in that day. He will so arrange
affairs as to hedge up their way, entangle them with
earthly treasures, cause them to carry a heavy, wearisome burden, that their hearts may be overcharged
with the cares of this life and the day of trial may come
upon them as a thief.”—Great Controversy, 625:2626:0.
———————————————
The following section
is from The End of Time, pp. 58-62:
———————————————
-3SATAN WILL PERSONATE CHRIST
There are two mentions, in Great Controversy, of
Satan’s appearance as a counterfeit Christ. It is signifi-
10 cant that each mention of these appearances speaks of
Satan’s appeals to the people to hallow Sunday. Such
appeals would more fittingly be given before probation closes, while men and women are still making
their decision. However, in Great Controversy, it would
appear that his personations are mentioned both before and after the general close of probation (GC 561562 and 624-625). Thus it seems certain that some of
these almost overmastering appearances will occur
BEFORE probation ends, during the time of the marking, sealing, and loud cry. (Later in this study, we will
analyze the second passage [GC 624-625] in greater
detail.)
The quotations indicate that the appearance of Satan occurs after the U.S. National Sunday Law and
before all the rest of the world has enacted it. It appears that Satan’s personal appearances will help convince the non-Christian nations to unite in the fevered
Sunday-law excitement that first grips America and,
then, Europe. The sequence would be as follows: (1)
The threefold union begins forming; (2) the National
Sunday Law is enacted; (3) the marvelous working of
Satan begins, culminating in the appearance of Satan
as an angel of light who claims to be Christ. (4) Astonished at these occurrences (including the appearance
of pagan non-Christian deities), other nations pass National Sunday Laws.
Satan’s personation as Christ, along with satanic
miracle working by his agents, will raise the enthusiasm about the Sunday law to a frenzy and carry that
emotional high pitch into all other nations of earth,
leading them to enact their own National Sunday Laws.
The following quotations, in addition, reveal that,
when Satan personates, he will appear as a glorious
angel claiming to be Christ Himself, not a mere man
claiming to be a last-day “Christ.”
1 - Sequence: According to 5 Testimonies, 451,
first will come the threefold union, then the National Sunday Law, and then the marvelous working of Satan.
“By the decree enforcing the institution of the papacy in violation of the law of God, our nation will
disconnect herself fully from righteousness. When
Protestantism shall stretch her hand across the gulf
to grasp the hand of the Roman power, when she
shall reach over the abyss to clasp hands with spiritualism, when, under the influence of this threefold
union, our country shall repudiate every principle of
its Constitution as a Protestant and republican government, and shall make provision for the propagation of papal falsehoods and delusions, then we may
know that the time has come for the marvelous working of Satan and that the end is near.”—5 Testimonies, 451:1.
2 - Sequence: According to Testimonies to Ministers, 62, first is the appearance of Satan and, then,
the law of God will be made void throughout all nations.
“In this age antichrist will appear as the true
Christ; and, then, the law of God will be fully made
void in the nations of our world. Rebellion against
God’s holy law will be fully ripe. But the true leader of
all this rebellion is Satan clothed as an angel of light.
Men will be deceived and will exalt him to the place of
God, and deify him. But Omnipotence will interpose,
and to the apostate churches that unite in the exaltation of Satan, the sentence will go forth, ‘Therefore
shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with
fire: for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her’ [Rev.
18:8].”—Testimonies to Ministers, 62:1.
3 - Satan will appear to the Christian world and
to those who have not yet decided for Sundaykeeping as the returned Christ. He will also appear
to Sabbathkeepers and pretend to be the returned
Christ.
The next quotation indicates that Satan will appear to be Christ near the latter part of the loud cry
period as “one last desperate effort” to deceive the entire world.
In this crisis, the only safety for Sabbathkeepers
will be in obedience to the Word of God; for Satan’s
message will always be one of disobedience to that
Word.
“Satan sees that he is about to lose his case. He
cannot sweep in the whole world. He makes one last
desperate effort to overcome the faithful by deception. He does this in personating Christ. He
clothes himself with the garments of royalty which have
been accurately described in the vision of John. He
has power to do this. He will appear to his deluded
followers, the Christian world who received not the
love of the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness
(transgression of the law), as Christ coming the second time.
“He proclaims himself Christ, and he is believed
to be Christ, a beautiful, majestic being clothed with
majesty and with soft voice and pleasant words, with
glory unsurpassed by anything their mortal eyes had
yet beheld. Then his deceived, deluded followers
set up a shout of victory, ‘Christ has come the
second time! Christ has come! He has lifted up His
hands just as He did when He was upon the earth,
and blessed us.’
“The saints look on with amazement. Will they
also be deceived? Will they worship Satan? Angels of
God are about them. A clear, firm, musical voice is
heard, ‘Look up.’
“There was one object before the praying ones—the
final and eternal salvation of their souls. This object
was before them constantly, that immortal life was
promised to those who endure unto the end. Oh, how
earnest and fervent had been their desires. The judgment and eternity were in view. Their eyes by faith were
fixed on the blazing throne, before which the white-robed
ones were to stand. This restrained them from the in-
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“One effort more, and then Satan’s last device is
employed. He hears the unceasing cry for Christ
to come, for Christ to deliver them. This last strategy is to personate Christ and make them think
their prayers are answered.”—Last Day Events, 164:1165:1.
SATAN WANTS TO
DECEIVE AND CONTROL THE WORLD
1 - One of Satan’s objectives in his appearance is
to deceive the Christian world.
“We are approaching the end of this earth’s history,
and Satan is working as never before. He is striving to act as director of the Christian world. With
an intensity that is marvelous he is working with his
lying wonders. Satan is represented as walking about
as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. He desires to embrace the whole world in his confederacy.
Hiding his deformity under the garb of Christianity, he
assumes the attributes of a Christian and claims to be
Christ Himself.”—8 Manuscript Releases, 346:1 (1901).
2 - Men will be astounded by Satan’s appearance
as Christ. They will deify him. That culminating act
of apostasy will be the last step in fully eliminating
obedience to God’s law by all but the faithful. Not
long after this, the general close of probation will
occur and the plagues will begin falling.
“In this age antichrist will appear as the true
Christ, and then the law of God will be fully made
void in the nations of our world. Rebellion against
God’s holy law will be fully ripe. But the true leader of
all this rebellion is Satan clothed as an angel of light.
Men will be deceived and will exalt him to the
place of God, and deify him. But Omnipotence will
interpose, and to the apostate churches that unite in
the exaltation of Satan, the sentence will go forth,
‘Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death,
and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly
burned with fire: for strong is the Lord God who
judgeth her.’ ”—Testimonies to Ministers, 62:1.
BOTH SATAN AND HIS ANGELS
WILL APPEAR
1 - Both Satan and His angels will appear on
earth as men, seeking to deceive the world. In that
hour of crisis, holy angels will also appear in human form.
“Satan will use every opportunity to seduce men from
their allegiance to God. He and the angels who fell
with him will appear on the earth as men, seeking
to deceive. God’s angels also will appear as men, and
will use every means in their power to defeat the purposes of the enemy.”—8 Manuscript Releases, 399:1
(1903).
2 - Satan will appear, surrounded by his angels.
He will work miracles of all kinds in the hope of de-
ceiving God’s people, not only the people of the 11
world.
“It is impossible to give any idea of the experience of
the people of God who shall be alive upon the earth when
celestial glory and a repetition of the persecutions of the
past are blended. They will walk in the light proceeding
from the throne of God. By means of the angels there
will be constant communication between heaven and
earth. And Satan, surrounded by evil angels and
claiming to be God, will work miracles of all kinds,
to deceive, if possible, the very elect. God’s people will
not find their safety in working miracles, for Satan will
counterfeit the miracles that will be wrought. God’s tried
and tested people will find their power in the sign spoken of in Exodus 31:12-18. They are to take their stand
on the living Word: ‘It is written.’ This is the only foundation upon which they can stand securely.”—9 Testimonies, 16:1.
3 - This special masterpiece of deception will be
taken to the entire world, and will captivate most men.
“The enemy is preparing to deceive the whole
world by his miracle-working power. He will assume
to personate the angels of light, to personate Jesus
Christ.”—2 Selected Messages, 96:1.
“Satan has long been preparing for his final effort
to deceive the world. The foundation of his work was
laid by the assurance given to Eve in Eden: ‘Ye shall
not surely die.’ ‘In the day ye eat thereof, then your
eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.’ Little by little he has prepared the
way for his masterpiece of deception in the development of spiritualism. He has not yet reached the full
accomplishment of his designs; but it will be
reached in the last remnant of time. Says the
prophet: ‘I saw three unclean spirits like frogs . . they
are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go
forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole
world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of
God Almighty.’ Except those who are kept by the power
of God, through faith in His Word, the whole world
will be swept into the ranks of this delusion. The
people are fast being lulled to a fatal security, to be
awakened only by the outpouring of the wrath of
God.”—Great Controversy, 561:2-562:0.
4 - The world that has rejected the truth will
receive him.
“As the second appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ
draws near, satanic agencies are moved from beneath.
Satan will not only appear as a human being, but he
will personate Jesus Christ; and the world that has
rejected the truth will receive him as the Lord of lords
and King of kings.”—5 Bible Commentary, 1105/2:41106/1:0.
SATAN WILL BE AGAINST GOD’S LAW
1 - Disguised as Christ, Satan will speak and do
good, but will reveal his true character by turning
the people against obedience to God’s law.
12
“Disguised as an angel of light, he will walk the
earth as a wonder worker. In beautiful language he
will present lofty sentiments. Good words will be spoken by him, and good deeds performed. Christ will be
personified, but on one point there will be a marked
distinction. Satan will turn the people from the law
of God.”—Fundamentals of Christian Education,
471:3-472:0.
2 - He will declare to men that the Sabbath has
been changed to Sunday.
“He will declare that the Sabbath has been changed
from the seventh to the first day of the week; and as
lord of the first day of the week he will present this
spurious sabbath as a test of loyalty to him.”—
Maranatha, 205:4.
Note: Three facts will identify him as the antichrist:
(1) his hatred of God’s law, which is shown by his urging of the people to keep Sunday holy; (2) his hatred
of those who obey God’s law, which is shown by his
accusations against them and his call for the world to
persecute them; and (3) his inability to come in the
manner in which Christ will return the second time.
HE CANNOT IMITATE
THE SECOND ADVENT
Satan will not be permitted to imitate the manner of Christ’s return in great power and with large
numbers of angels. (Instead, all he can do is to appear suddenly on the earth, walk around, disappear, and then reappear elsewhere on the earth as
he gives his teachings and works miracles.)
“Satan is not permitted to counterfeit the manner of Christ’s advent.”—Great Controversy, 625:2.
“He [Satan] will come personating Jesus Christ,
working mighty miracles; and men will fall down and
worship him as Jesus Christ. We shall be commanded
to worship this being, whom the world will glorify as
Christ. What shall we do? Tell them that Christ
has warned us against just such a foe, who is
man’s worst enemy, yet who claims to be God, and
that when Christ shall make His appearance it
will be with power and great glory, accompanied
by ten thousand times ten thousand angels and
thousands of thousands; and that when He shall come,
we shall know His voice.”—6 Bible Commentary, 1105/
2:5-1106/1:0.
HE WILL PERSONALLY WORK MIRACLES
1 - To the degree to which he is permitted, he will
perform both counterfeit and actual miracles to convince men that he is the Christ.
“So far as his power extends, he will perform actual miracles. Says the Scripture: ‘He . . deceiveth them
that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles
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which he had power to do,’ not merely those which he
pretends to do. Something more than mere impostures
is brought to view in this scripture. But there is a limit
beyond which Satan cannot go, and here he calls deception to his aid and counterfeits the work which he has
not power actually to perform. In the last days he will
appear in such a manner as to make men believe him
to be Christ come the second time into the world. He
will indeed transform himself into an angel of light.
But while he will bear the appearance of Christ in every
particular, so far as mere appearance goes, it will deceive none but those who, like Pharaoh, are seeking to
resist the truth.”—5 Testimonies, 698:1.
2 - Personating Christ, he will work miracles and
be worshiped. But the faithful will declare him to be
Satan.
“He will come personating Jesus Christ, working mighty miracles; and men will fall down and
worship him as Jesus Christ.
“We shall be commanded to worship this being,
whom the world will glorify as Christ. What shall we
do?—Tell them that Christ has warned us against
just such a foe, who is man’s worst enemy, yet who
claims to be God; and that when Christ shall make
His appearance, it will be with power and great glory,
accompanied by ten thousand times ten thousand
angels and thousands of thousands; and that when
He shall come, we shall know His voice.”—Maranatha,
206:6.
“If men are so easily misled now, how will they
stand when Satan shall personate Christ and work
miracles? Who will be unmoved by his misrepresentations—then professing to be Christ when it is only
Satan assuming the person of Christ and apparently
working the works of Christ?”—2 Selected Messages,
394:4.
3 - Claiming to be Christ, he will work miracles
in the sight of the faithful. Only those clinging to
Scripture will not be deluded.
“The time is coming when Satan will work
miracles right in your sight, claiming that he is
Christ; and if your feet are not firmly established upon
the truth of God, then you will be led away from your
foundation.”—7 Bible Commentary, 911/1:3.
SATAN WILL BRING DOWN FIRE
1 - Claiming to be Christ, Satan will heal and bring
down fire.
“You know that Satan will come in to deceive if possible the very elect. He claims to be Christ, and he is
coming in, pretending to be the great medical missionary. He will cause fire to come down from heaven
in the sight of men, to prove that he is God. We must
stand barricaded by the truths of the Bible. The canopy
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“We must not trust the claims of men. They may, as
Christ represents, profess to work miracles in healing
the sick. Is this marvelous, when just behind them
stands the great deceiver, the miracle worker who will
yet bring down fire from heaven in the sight of
men?”—2 Selected Messages, 49:3.
“It is the lying wonders of the devil that will take
the world captive, and he will cause fire to come
down from heaven in the sight of men. He is to work
miracles, and this wonderful, miracle-working power
is to sweep in the whole world.”—2 Selected Messages,
51:2.
“It is stated in the Word that the enemy will work
through his agents who have departed from the faith,
and they will seemingly work miracles, even to the
bringing down of fire out of heaven in the sight of
men.”—2 Selected Messages, 54:0.
“ ‘He doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire
come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of
men, and deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by
the means of those miracles which he had power to
do’ (Rev. 13:13-14). No mere impostures are here
foretold. Men are deceived by the miracles which
Satan’s agents have power to do, not which they pretend to do.”—Great Controversy, 553:2.
Note: Elsewhere we are told that Satan’s healing
miracles are illusions, caused by casting spells and
then removing them, and that his other miracles are
also delusional, and not genuine. In 2 Selected Messages, 54, quoted above, he will “seemingly” work
miracles, such as bringing down fire. So it is not real
fire. In view of such consistent witness, perhaps the
Great Controversy, 553, paragraph (quoted immediately above) means this: Satan and his agents will have
almost overmastering power to actually deceive by what
actually appears to the eye to be actual wonders (rather
than by obvious sleight-of-hand or mere trickeries).
5 Testimonies 698:1 explains the above statement
in Great Controversy, 553:2:
“Something more than mere impostures is brought
to view in this scripture. But there is a limit beyond
which Satan cannot go, and here he calls deception to his aid and counterfeits the work which he
has not power actually to perform.”—5 Testimonies,
698:1.
OF FOUR
And here is another statement:
Continued from the preceding tract in this series
of truth is the only canopy under which we can stand
safely.”—Medical Ministry, 87:5-88:0.
2 - Satan will bring fire down from the sky.
PART FOUR
“Those who look for miracles as a sign of divine
guidance are in danger of deception. It is stated in the
Word that the enemy will work through his agents who
have departed from the faith, and they will seemingly
work miracles, even to the bringing down of fire out
of heaven in the sight of men. By means of ‘lying wonders’ Satan would deceive, if possible, the very elect.”—
3 Selected Messages, 408:4-409:0.
HE WILL DECEIVE ALL
EXCEPT THE FAITHFUL
ply.
1 - He will misrepresent, pervert, and misap-
“Satan will take the field and personate Christ.
He will misrepresent, misapply, and pervert everything he possibly can.”—Testimonies to Ministers, 411:2.
2 - This false Christ will deceive all except those
solidly founded in Scripture.
“A power from beneath is working to bring about
the last great scenes in the drama—Satan coming
as Christ, and working with all deceivableness
of unrighteousness in those who are binding themselves together in secret societies.”—8 Testimonies,
28:0.
“Satan is determined to keep up the warfare to
the end. Coming as an angel of light, claiming to
be the Christ, he will deceive the world. But his
triumph will be short. No storm or tempest can move
those whose feet are planted on the principles of eternal truth. They will be able to stand in this time of
almost universal apostasy.”—6 Bible Commentary,
1106/2:1.
3 - Satan’s healings, miracles, and lying wonders will deceive all but those obedient to God’s
Word.
“Some will be tempted to receive these wonders as
from God. The sick will be healed before us. Miracles
will be performed in our sight. Are we prepared for
the trial which awaits us when the lying wonders of
Satan shall be more fully exhibited? Will not many souls
be ensnared and taken? By departing from the plain
precepts and commandments of God, and giving heed
to fables, the minds of many are preparing to receive
these lying wonders. We must all now seek to arm ourselves for the contest in which we must soon engage.
Faith in God’s Word, prayerfully studied and practically applied, will be our shield from Satan’s power
and will bring us off conquerors through the blood of
14
Christ.”—Maranatha, 208:6.
4 - His lying wonders, fire from the sky, and
miracles will captivate nearly the whole world.
“It is the lying wonders of the devil that will take
the world captive, and he will cause fire to come down
from heaven in the sight of men. He is to work miracles;
and this wonderful miracle-working power is to sweep
in the whole world.”—2 Selected Messages, 51:2.
Will you be prepared to stand up and declare that
this beautiful being with the pleasing voice and angelic brilliance is none other than Satan?
———————————————
The following section
is from The End of Time, pp. 65-68:
———————————————
SPIRITUALISM
Few Have Any Idea of the Superhuman Power that
Will Work through Spiritualism to Capture the
World.—“Spiritualism is about to take the world captive. There are many who think that spiritualism is
upheld through trickery and imposture, but this is far
from the truth. Superhuman power is working in a
variety of ways, and few have any idea as to what will
be the manifestations of spiritualism in the future.
The Falsehood of Natural Immortality Has Laid
the Foundation for Spiritualism’s Success.—“The
foundations for the success of spiritualism has been
laid in the assertions that have been made from the
pulpits of our land. The ministers have proclaimed as
Bible doctrines falsehoods that have originated with
the archdeceiver. The doctrine of consciousness after
death, of the spirits of the dead being in communion
with the living, has no foundation in the Scriptures,
and yet these theories are affirmed as truth. Through
this false doctrine, the way is opened for the spirits of
devils to deceive the people in representing themselves
as the dead. Satanic agencies personate the dead and
thus bring souls into captivity. Satan has a religion.
He has a synagogue of devoted worshipers. To swell
the ranks of his devotees, he uses all manner of deception.
As Men Reject the Truth and God’s Spirit Is
Withdrawn, Satan Will Work More Openly.—“The
signs and wonders of spiritualism will become more
and more pronounced as the professed Christian
world reject the plainly revealed truth of the Word of
God and refuse to be guided by a plain, ‘Thus saith the
Lord,’ accepting instead the doctrines and the commandments of men. Through rejecting light and truth, many
are deciding their destiny for eternal death, and as men
reject truth, the Spirit of God will gradually withdraw
itself from the earth, and the prince of this world will
have more and more control over his subjects. He will
show great signs and wonders as credentials of his divine claims, and through spiritualism will work against
Christ and His agencies.”—Undated Manuscript, 66,
1-6 (“Signs and Wonders of Spiritualism. See also Ev
602-603).
LYING WONDERS AND MIRACLES
Satan’s Lying Wonders and Corrupt Harmony
among His Followers.—“We must be waiting and watching and working diligently that Satan may not preoccupy the field and bring the issue upon us before our
work is done. Satan has his work all prepared that
through his lying wonders he may deceive the world. He
will bind men in bundles and claim that [the] world is
on his side. A corrupt union will exist among the wicked
of the earth, and men will be banded together to trample
down the standard of righteousness—to please Satan
and his evil angels, and to gratify a world at enmity with
God and His law.”—Letter 1, 1875 (to “Dear Brother,”
October 12, 1875).
Satan Deceives by Apparently Healing Those
Whom He Has Tormented.—“The Word of God declares that when it suits the enemy’s purpose, he will
through his agencies manifest so great power under a
pretense of Christianity that, ‘if it were possible, they
shall deceive the very elect’ (Matt. 24:24). The enemy
is revealed in persons whom he has given power to
work miracles. He creates sorrow and suffering and
disease. Seeming to change his attributes, he apparently heals those whom he himself has tormented.”—
Manuscript 125, 1901, 6-9, 12-14, 21 (“The Unchangeable Law of God,” December 9, 1901).
Wonderful Scenes with which Satan Will Be
Closely Connected Will Soon Take Place.—“The time
will come, Christ tells us, when many deceivers will
go forth declaring themselves to be Christ. The Saviour says, ‘Go ye not . . after them’ (Luke 21:8). We
need not be deceived. Wonderful scenes, with which
Satan will be closely connected, will soon take place.
God’s Word declares that Satan will work miracles.
He will make people sick, and then will suddenly remove from them his satanic power.”—Letter 57, 1904
(“To Our Leading Medical Workers,” November 12,
1903).
How Men Under the Influence of Evil Spirits
Will Work Miracles.—“Men under the influence of evil
spirits will work miracles. They will make people sick
by casting their spell upon them, and will then remove
the spell, leading others to say that those who were sick
have been miraculously healed. This Satan has done
again and again.”—Letter 259, 1903 (to “Dear Sister
Hall,” November 23, 1903. See also 2 SM 350-353).
If We Watch and Obey.—“Temptations will come,
but if we watch against the enemy, and maintain the
balance of self-control and purity, the seducing spirits
will not be able to obtain one jot of influence over us. In
the future you will see good reasons for the warnings
given in regard to seducing spirits.”—Letter 211, 1905
(to J.E. White, July 22, 1905).
Apostates Will Go to Great Lengths in Departing
from God.—“The Lord is in earnest with us. In His Word
W
M
1
5
4
1
He has declared that many shall depart from the faith,
giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils.
They will go to great lengths in departing from God . .
Satan is wide awake, and he will lose no opportunity to
bind men and women to his plans, and to fasten them
in such a way that before they are aware of it, they will
find a yoke of bondage upon them.”—Manuscript 122,
1905, 2-3, 5-6 (“A Solemn Appeal,” August 1905. See
also PM 174-175).
Satan’s Throne Is in this World.—“The seat or
throne of Satan is in this world, and students of prophecy are to be fully awake regarding the powers they
are to meet . .
Satan’s Power Will Be Manifested as a Wonderful Blessing to the Race.—“There are those who
greatly desire power, and who will use inventions that
Satan places in their hands to gain power. The evil
[one] has acquired wonderful power, and this power
will be manifested as apparently a most wonderful
blessing to the race.”—Manuscript 78, 1905, 6 (“A Message to Believers,” n.d. 1905).
By Exercising Faith and Prayer, We May Call
Heavenly Angels to Our Side.—“We are warned that
in these last days satanic influences will work with
such power that, if it were possible, they would deceive even the very elect. But living amid these opposing forces, we may, through the exercise of faith and
prayer, call to our side a retinue of heavenly angels,
who will guard us from every corrupting influence. The
workers who make the Word of God their guide, will
walk in the light of the Lord, and be safe.”—Letter
248, 1907 (to J.E. White and wife, August 16, 1907).
God Will Distinguish with the Marks of His Favor Those Who Submit to be Molded by His Spirit.—
“In this age, a time of satanic wonders, everything conceivable will be said and done to deceive, if possible,
the very elect. Let believers say nothing to extol Satan’s
power. The Lord will distinguish His commandmentkeeping people with signal marks of His favor, if they
will be molded and fashioned by His Spirit, and built
up in the most holy faith, hearkening strictly to the
Voice of His Word.”—Letter 195, 1903 (to W.C. White,
September 6, 1903).
God Promises Deliverance from the Hour of
Temptation.—“There are severe trials before every one
of us, yet we need not fail. In the hour of temptation
Christ will not leave His children, but will send His
angels to minister unto them. He will answer their
prayers for deliverance . .
If We Will Grasp the Power that Christ Offers.—
“Satan knows that his time is short, and he will put
forth every effort in his power to destroy our faith in
God and in His Word . . But if we will grasp the power
that Christ offers, seeking the Lord diligently, and watching unto prayer, we shall have all power and wisdom to
meet the attacks of the enemy.
The Time Has Come to Take Our Stand Positively
on Christ’s Side.—“Many of our people do not seem to
realize that the time has come for everyone to take his 15
stand positively on the side of Jesus Christ and the
heavenly angels. By their indifference, by carelessness
in word and act, they leave themselves open to the molding influence of the enemy. They seem asleep as regards
to the issues that are now before the world.”—Manuscript 35, 1908, 2, 3, 6-8, 11-12 (“Conflict and Victory,” a sermon preached in Oakland, California, March
7, 1908).
Satan, Posing as an Intellectual, Insinuates Himself into Circles of the Intelligentsia through Spiritualism.—“Satan personated the serpent in Eden, regarding this creature as the best adapted for his line
of temptations. Satan has been increasing in skillful
methods by constantly practicing upon the human
mind. It is his one purpose to complete the work that
he began in Eden, and work the ruin of mankind.
Through his mysterious workings he can insinuate
himself into the circles of the most educated and refined, for he was once an exalted being, in a high position of responsibility among the heavenly hosts. It is a
mistake to represent him as a being with hoofs and
horns, for he is still a fallen angel. He is capable of
mingling the highest intellectual greatness with basest cruelty and most debasing corruption. If he had
not this power, many who are charmed with his attractive representations and taken captive by his delusions would escape his snares.
Why It Is Not Surprising to Find a Species of
Refinement in Those Inspired by Fallen Angels.—
“In his synagogue Satan brings under his scepter and
into his councils those agents whom he can use to
promote his worship. It is not a strange matter to find
a species of refinement, and a manifestation of intellectual greatness in the lives and characters of those
who are inspired by fallen angels. Satan can impart
scientific knowledge and give men chapters upon philosophy. He is conversant with history and versed in
worldly wisdom.
Worldly Men Claim to Possess Higher,
Grander Intellects than Christ Had.—“Almost every
phase of talent is now being brought into captivity to
the prince of the power of darkness. Worldly minded
men, because they wish to exalt themselves, have separated from God, do not love to retain God in their knowledge, for they claim to possess a higher, grander intellect than that of Jesus Christ. Satan envies Christ, and
makes the claim that he is entitled to a higher position
than the Commander of heaven. His self-exaltation led
him to despise the law of God, and resulted in his expulsion from heaven.
Satan Has Manifested His Character through the
Papacy.—“Through the papacy he has manifested his
character and wrought out the principles of his government.
“Satan will use his agencies to carry out diabolical
devices, to overpower the saints of God as in time past
he used the Roman power to stay the course of Protes-
16 tantism. Yet the people of God can look calmly at the
whole array of evil and come to the triumphant conclusion that, because Christ lives, we shall live also. The
people of God are to advance in the same spirit in which
Jesus met the assaults of the prince of darkness in the
past. The evil confederacy can advance only in the course
that Jesus Christ has marked out before them. Every
step of their advance brings the saints of God nearer
the great white throne, nearer the successful termination of their warfare.”—Undated Manuscript 66, 1-6
(“Signs and Wonders of Spiritualism.” See also Ev 602603).
SATANIC APPEARANCES
He Comes as a Beautiful Angel.—“Satan comes
down as a beautiful angel, and presents lovely pictures
before the eyes of those who have so perverted their
ways before God that they do not see what they are or
know what they need. The enemy has come down with
great power, to work with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish.”—Letter 259, 1903 (to
“Dear Sister Hall,” November 23, 1903. See also 7 BC
35, 383; 2 SM 350-351).
In the Final Conflict Satan Comes, Not Only as a
Roaring Lion, but Also as a Seducer.—“We need to
understand what we are to meet and how we are to
meet it. We must know what efforts we are to make, so
that in this perilous time we shall not be taken by the
enemy’s devices. We know that the last great conflict
will be Satan’s most determined effort to accomplish
his purpose. He will come, not only as a roaring lion,
but as a seducer, clothing sin with beautiful garments
of light, that he may take human beings in his snare.”—
Manuscript 46, 1904, 1-3, 6-8 (“The Foundation of
Our Faith,” a talk given at Berrien Springs, Michigan, May 18, 1904).
Evil Angels in Human Form Will Present Glowing Representations.—“Satan has his allies in men,
and evil angels in human form will appear to men, and
present before them such glowing representations of
what they will be able to do, if they will only heed their
suggestions, [so] that often they [ex] change their penitence for defiance.”—Manuscript 122, 1905, 2-3, 5-6
(“A Solemn Appeal,” August 1905).
SATANIC INFLUENCE
Angels Preserve the World from Destruction because Some Have Never Yet Heard the Message.—
“God’s angels are preserving the world from destruc-
tion, because there are some who have never yet heard
the message of truth . .
Those Who act a Part in Spiritualistic Deceptions
Will Become as Mad Men When Their Deceptions Are
Exposed.—“The development of these last days will soon
become decided. When these spiritualistic deceptions
are revealed to be what they really are, the secret workings of evil spirits, those who have acted a part in them
will become as men who have lost their minds.
“The world is to be flooded with specious fallacies.
One human mind, accepting these fallacies, will work
upon other human minds who have been turning the
precious evidence of God’s truth into a lie. These men
will be deceived by fallen angels, when they should have
stood as faithful guardians, watching for souls as they
that must give an account. They have laid down the weapons of their warfare, and have given heed to seducing
spirits. They make of no effect the counsel of God, and
set aside His warnings and reproofs, and are positively
on Satan’s side, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils . .
Through Satan’s Cunning Device the Forms of the
Dead Will Appear.—“History is to be repeated . . The
forms of the dead will appear through the cunning device of Satan, and many will link up with the one who
loveth and maketh a lie . . Right among us some men
will turn away from the faith and give heed to seducing
spirits and doctrines of devils, and by them the truth
will be evil spoken of.
Some Who Have Been Deceived Will Repent and
Be Converted.—“Some who have been deceived by
men in responsible places will repent and be converted. And in all our dealings with them, we must
remember that none of those who are in the depth of
Satan’s snare know that they are there.”—Letter 311,
1905 (to A.G. Daniells, W.W. Prescott, and their associates, October 30, 1905. See also Ev 122, 180; UL
317).
Satan’s Angels Are Mingling with Men.—“Satan
is using his science in playing the game of life for human souls. His angels are mingling with men, and instructing them in the mysteries of evil. These fallen
angels will draw away disciples after them, will talk
with men, and will set forth principles that are as false
as can be, leading souls into paths of deception. These
angels are to be found all over the world, presenting
the wonderful things that will soon appear in a more
decided light.”—Manuscript 145, 1905, 4 (“Diary,”
October 31, 1905).
We are rapidly nearing the end of time. Evidences are all about us. Prepare for
what is coming! Warn others. Tell them the only shelter will be found in Christ and,
through His enabling grace, in obedience to His holy Ten Commandment Law.
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